Off to France!

At this moment, Adam Wireman and I are sitting in the Toledo Airport waiting for our connecting flight to Detroit where we will depart for Paris. Yes, this begins our adult Youth For Christ service project in France! We had no problem getting through security, other than my belt didn’t make it through the metal detector. Once I took the belt off, we were good to go. Now we wait for our flight, which may be delayed one hour. We still have plenty of time to connect with our flight to Charles de Gaulle. Please pray for us as we meet up with 5 other team members in Detroit. May we experience His presence as we travel the hundreds of miles before us. Please check back for further updates. Of course all is dependant upon internet connections. These are the days my friends.
Jim “Train”

Thanksgiving

On October 3rd, 1863, Abraham Lincoln invited the people "in every part of the United States" to "observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father." Ever since then, every President has proclaimed a day in November as one for thanks. It's unfortunate that lately our culture seems to race past Thanksgiving. As soon as Halloween is over, it's off to the Christmas Season. But let us pause this day and give thanks. It's remarkable that Abraham Lincoln began a day of Thanksgiving in the midst of our Civil War. Yet even in dark times we are called to thanks. Even in times of plenty we are to give thanks. So in the middle of chewing turkey meat, give Him thanks. Thanks for the potaotes and corn. Thanks for family, friends, and faith. Thank you Lord for the breath I take. There really is a lot to be thankful for. These are the days my friend.
Jim "Train"

Michigan vs. Ohio State

This Saturday the Wolverines of Michigan play the Buckeyes of OSU. This is one of the biggest games between these two football powers, possibly ever! OSU ranked number one in the country. Michigan right there at number two. The winner goes the the National Championship Game. WOW!!! Pat and I have had the privelege to see 4 Michigan games this season. It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine. We'll be in Cincinnati for the National Youth Workers Conference. No session or seminar will prevent us from watching the game saturday afternoon.
Michigan was a disappointing 7-5 last season. They credit some of their success this year by watching the movie "Cinderella Man." Before the season began, the team watched the movie. After that the coaches and players would watch clips at different times during the season. The team especially likes the scene where it said that James J. Braddock's not the same fighter he used to be. The Michigan football team vowed not to be the same team like last year. They want every opponent to say "That's not the same team we played last year." So far it's worked. Michigan is undefeated. My prediction is OSU players will be saying on Saturday, "That's not the same team we played last year." Michigan 24 - OSU 17. Go Blue!!
Jim "Train"

Charge Up at Cincinnati

Friday morning, Pat and I leave with some other youth workers and Bluffton University students for the National Youth Workers Conference in Cincinnati. We attended this conference in Nashville last year and it was a great time. It's so important for those who do ministry to be ministered to. This conference provides that for us. It will be a time of worship with the David Crowder Band and teaching from a host of people. I especially like Dan Kimball, Walt Mueller, Mark Oestreicher, and Tony Compolo. So off we go at 7 am. Friday morning. Don Leader will host Friday Focus and Bill Jones will lead Mars Hill on Friday. We'll return Monday in time for Club 56, all charged up and ready to go after our time in Cincinnati. These are the days my friend. Jim "Train"

French Food

The day after Thanksgiving, I along with six other adults, will be going to France on a Project Serve mission. In preparation, I'm reading "God Still Loves the French, Adventures of a Missionary to France" by Marc Mailloux. Anyone who's been to France know how good the food is. The bread, cheese, and pizza are the best in the world! Marc Mailloux remarks how the French love their food. I love the description of heaven and hell used in the book. It goes like this..."It is said that heaven is where the welcoming committee is English; the cook is French; the poets Italian; the mechanics German; and the police Swiss. On the contrary, in hell, the welcoming committee is French; the cook British; the mechanics Italian; the poets Swiss; and the police German." If all that's true, trust in Jesus! These are the days my friend.
Jim "Train"

In Memory of Paul

Today was Paul Miserlian's Memorial Service. It was a great day to remember Paul and the legacy that he leaves us. I had the privelege of sharing at the service. I talked about how Paul could enter into a conversation with anyone. He would try to connect some way with you whether you lived in Findlay or France. Then I remarked about Paul's devotion to the Word of God. For the past several years, both of us have been using "Table Talk" as our daily devotional. Almost everytime we got together, he would mention to me an interesting verse or idea he had read in "Table Talk.' Often Paul would quote, "The Spirit of God takes the Word of God and applies it to the heart of the child of God" by Warren Wiersbe. After that, I talked about how Paul was first and foremost a mentor to many, including myself. He always wanted you to be better in Christ. Often he would say, "Take care of your spouse." "Say please and thank you." "Leave the place better than you found it." I wrapped up my remembrance of Paul with 2 Timothy 4:6-8 "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." These are the words of the Apostle Paul, but our so apt for our Paul. "Paul, you have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, and have kept the faith. I'm sure you look good wearing that crown." These are the days my friend.
Jim "Train"

Birthday in Bloomington

Pat and I leave Saturday morning to see the Michigan Wolverine football team play the Hoosiers of Indiana. This Sunday marks my 53rd birthday, and we're celebrating by seeing the Michigan football team play in Bloomington. This will be the fourth game we have attended this season. You just have to follow an undefeated team!!! Unfortunately, we have a cloud hovering over us with the death of Paul Miserlian. Paul was an avid Michigan fan and he went with us to see the first game of the year at Ann Arbor when the Wolverines played Vanderbilt. So while we cheer here on earth, I'm sure Paul will be yelling from heaven. The referees better be good or he'll let them know! Pat and I will travel back sometime Sunday and go to the funeral home for visitation. We'll then prepare ourselves for a time of celebrating Paul's life Monday morning. In the meantime, I'll cheer with Paul, "GO BLUE!" These are the days my friend.
Jim "Train"

Paul Passing On

Thursday afternoon reminded me of "living life between phone calls." My wife, Pat and I were on a walk through Bluffton University, when my cell phone alerted me to a call. It was Ann Leader and her words were about to change my day and the days following. Ann had called to tell me that Paul Miserlian had jsut passed away while mowing his yard. Paul was 74 years old and seemed in good health. Just the past weekend, Pat and I had eaten out with with Paul. Friday we had dinner at The Rocking U and Sunday after church at Hunan Gardens. Sunday was to be the last time I would see Paul this side of heaven. Paul was a mentor, co worker, and friend. We had traveled to France several times on missions trips. Just this fall, he gave me his frequet flyer miles so I could fly to France at the end of this month, for a miminal charge. Paul was a solid rock who made friends easily. The great news is, Paul is more alive now than before. What a blessing and comfort to know that those who live for Christ shall never perish. Here's to you Paul! May you experience unspeakable joy in the presence of the Savior. You are missed but the lives you touched go on. These are the days my friend.
Jim "Train"

Believe Only What You See?

Why believe in God? You can't see Him, so why believe in Him? There's a new book out by Sam Harris called "Letter To a Christian Nation." It's similar to Bertrand Russell's book, "Why I Am Not a Christian" published in 1927. Sam Harris is a determined atheist who wants to "demolish the intellectual and moral pretensions of Christianity in it's most committed forms." This reminds me of the Chronicles of Narnia movie where the older kids are talking to the Professor about Lucy's belief in a land beyond the wardrobe. The Professor asks them why they don't believe. Peter and Susan talk about how hard it is to believe in something you can't see. Then the Professor says maybe you should start believing in your family. I think there's a lot of wisdom in that comment. What matters most in the culture we live in is not just being able to present intellectual arguments in why we believe in God (faith as a noun) but actually living out our faith as family (faith as a verb). To live the faith in context of a family is to give proof to the faith that we believe intellectually. Most likely you believe in Jesus because you see Him through the actions of a follower of Jesus. So may you live a life in the context of community in such a way as to make real the life of Christ. For "blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed." -John 20:29 These are the days my friend.
Jim "Train"

Parent Bugs

Every once in a while , I'll ask a college student who was actively involved with Campus Life if they remember any of the content that was shared. I realize more is caught than taught. But I'm interested if we're really communicating. One of the teaching that seem to stick out to them is the one on "Parent Bugs." In fact we're doing the "Bugs" thing tonight at our Campus Life Club JV for junior high students. (by the way, I love the junior high group - you're awesome!)We pass out paper "bugs" and the students get the opportunity to share what bugs them about their parents. We then give them a cutout of a Raid spray can. We then discuss ways to postively handle the parent "bugs." For some reason this content more than others, sticks with the kids for years later. By the way, if you teach kids, take the risk and ask them what they remember. I hate to burst your teaching bubble, but most likely they'll remember your love for them. After all, can there be any greater lesson to learn? These are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"

Ted Haggard

The news about Ted Haggard (former President of Natiuonal Evangelical association and Pastor of a large church in Colorado Springs) is a bummer and a reminder to all of to let the light of Jesus shine brightly in our souls. It's vitally important that a mentor/friend/accountability partner/small group are the ones holding the light of Christ deep into our souls. It's pretty tough to lie in front of someone who loves you. Sexual sin can be powerful stuff and when a person gets involved in it, deception and living a life of lies is what follows. So have a spiritual buddy who will challenge your motives and actions. Allow that person to bring you away from the shadows of temptation and sin. These are the days my friend.
Jim "Train"

All Saints Day

Wednesday, November 1st was All Saints Day. This is a time to reflect and thank God for the people of faith who have blazed the trail before us. At Bluffton Campus Life Breakfast Club, we looked at the 8th and final Beatitude. It was an appropriate passage of Scripture in light of the day. After looking at the words of Jesus, we then spent time remembering the persecuted, both those who died for the faith and those currently enduring hardship for Jesus. We did this by having a table set up with barbed wire, open books with stories of "saints" who were martyred, and pictures of believers currently being persecuted. We spent time in prayer for those living that they can either escape or endure their time of suffering. Take a moment and thank God for those who have gone on before us. It's by their lives and sometimes through the shedding of their blood that the faith in Christ has been passed on to us. This sure beats the focus on the day before, known as Halloween. These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

The Guardian

Monday evening, Pat and I went to see the movie, The Guardian. The story centers on the lengendary Rescue Swimmer, Ben Randall, played by Kevin Costner and a young, cocky swimmer, Jake Fischer, played by Ashton Kutcher. Ben has lost his Coast Guard crew in an accident and is sent to teach at the "A" School, an elite training program for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. It's at this training site that Ben and Jake meet. Their relationship is a great example of how a teacher can help disciple a new person to the faith. The love, dedication, discipline, communication, all our present for a person to grow.
We also see the dedication to risk all, to save the physical lives of people caught in storms at sea. This dedication was present when the Coast Guard merged with the Life Saving Service. The Surfman's motto was, "You have to go out, but you do not have to come back." If some brave souls are so motivated to save the physical lives of others, how more so should followers of Jesus be motivated to save the spiritual lives of others.
There is also a great scene which illustrates modern instruction and post modern teaching. At one point, Ben has his pupils swim in ice water. Ben is also in the water with the students. This is to help them experience hypothermia. In the scene, other instructions come in and see what's happening. They ask Ben why he doesn't teach about hypothermia from the text books. He responds that in about two more minutes, they'll understand all they need to know about hypothermia. Today's young people don't just want to be taught about prayer, they want to pray. They don't just want to hear about how to fast. They want to fast. It's combining teaching with experience. I highly recommend this movie to you. Also note the number Ben shares with Jake near the end of the movie. Pray we all might have this attitude in our hearts for the lives of others. These are the days my friend!
Jim "Train"